retorna

Retorna is a term found in Romance languages, notably Portuguese and Spanish, functioning as a verb form meaning “returns” or “to return.” In Portuguese, retorna is the third-person singular present indicative form of retornar or retornar (to return). It is used with ele, ela, or você as the subject: for example, Ele retorna amanhã means “He returns tomorrow.” The word derives from Latin retornare, through the evolution of the Portuguese retornar/retornar.

In Spanish, retorna is also the third-person singular present indicative of retornar, though in everyday usage many speakers prefer regresa or vuelve. It appears in more formal, literary, or regional contexts: El barco retorna al puerto translates to “The ship returns to the port.” Like Portuguese, it can surface in phrases describing the action of returning.

Etymology and meaning: Both forms trace to Latin retornare, from re- “back” plus tornare “to turn.” The semantic field centers on moving back to a previous place or condition; figurative uses include returning a favor, returning to a topic, or returning to a problem.

Usage notes: Retorna is not a noun or technical term by itself; its function is strictly grammatical as a verb form in these languages. In bilingual or comparative texts, retorna is commonly rendered as “returns” in English, depending on the subject.

See also: return (concept), retornar, regresa.